Department for Transport

Railways: Coronavirus

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial preparedness of train operators to meet any ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department has agreed new Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements with the rail industry which ensures our railways can continue to support the UK’s recovery from COVID-19. These agreements will be in place for up to 18 months, where the Government pays train companies a small performance-related management fee to keep services running through the pandemic. These agreements, like the Emergency Measures Agreements before them, bring stability and certainty to the rail industry to meet the challenges that this pandemic continues to present.

Manston Airport: Freight

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to inform the local population that an objective decision will be made about the proposed development of a freight cargo project at Manston airport; and if so, how.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The decision by Her Majesty's Government to grant the Manston Airport Development Consent Order 2020 for the reopening and development of Manston Airport was published on the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning Portal on 9 July 2020. This information will also be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Biofuels

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the biofuels market in the UK, and (2) that market's potential for growth.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government set out a fifteen-year strategy for renewable transport fuels in September 2017 which is available in the Libraries of the House. As part of that strategy we almost doubled targets for the supply of renewable fuels under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) between 2018 and 2020, with further increases to at least 12.4 per cent set for 2032. The Cost Benefit Analysis which accompanied that strategy set out in Appendix 3 estimated the effect on renewable fuel supply in the UK. This suggested the increases in targets could result in a UK renewable fuel market of 2.237 billion litres in 2018, 2.568 billion litres in 2019 and 3.372 billion litres in 2020. In 2018 2.01 billion litres of renewable fuel was reported as supplied under the RTFO, and provisional data suggests 2.68 billion litres of renewable fuel was supplied in 2019. The Department continues to monitor and review the support schemes it has in place for low carbon fuels across several modes of transport, to ensure these deliver cost effective carbon savings now and in future.

Electric Scooters: Coventry and Middlesbrough

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of issues with the use of e-scooters in (1) Coventry, and (2) Middlesbrough; and what plans they have to pause the e-scooter rental trials until appropriate safeguards are introduced to protect pedestrians.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: There are no plans to pause national e-scooter trials, which are absolutely essential if we are to fully assess this new mode and inform longer term micromobility policy. Officials are in close and regular contact with local authorities and e-scooter operators in live e-scooter trial areas. We are encouraging rapid action be taken to respond to operational issues as soon as they arise and ensuring that any lessons from early implementation are applied in subsequent trials. For example, issues which arose during the first week of the Middlesbrough trial, caused by a small minority of users, were quickly resolved with licence verification software and improved geo-fencing technology.

Aviation: Reviews

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their review into regional connectivity following the collapse of airline Flybe has started; and when they plan to publish that review's findings.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government recognises the impact of Flybe’s collapse and the subsequent impact of COVID-19 on regional airports, regional economies and connectivity across the UK. The Government remains committed to supporting regional connectivity across all transport modes, as well as the importance of maintaining a thriving competitive aviation sector in the UK to deliver connectivity. Regional air connectivity will form a key strand of our aviation recovery plan which we aim to publish this Autumn.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Natural Gas: Energy Supply

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the work being undertaken to upgrade the gas supply network.

Lord Callanan: In order to ensure the gas network is secure and safe for use, the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) enforcement policy for the Iron Mains Risk Reduction Programme (IMRRP) addresses the failure of ‘at risk’ iron gas mains. This involves the replacement of old, corroded iron pipes with polyethylene (plastic) pipes. Launched in 2002 under Pipelines Safety Regulation (1996), the scheme aims to reduce the risk to consumers of gas leakage incidents from old iron mains. The Programme is also laying the groundwork for the use of the network to potentially carry decarbonised gases such as hydrogen in the future. The proportion of iron pipes has fallen from 80% of the distribution network in the mid-1970s to around 20% today. This is forecast to fall to around 10% by the end of Ofgem’s forthcoming RIIO (Revenues Incentives Innovation Outputs) price control period (2021-2026) and fall to around 5% by the end of the Iron Mains Risk Reduction Programme in 2032.

Nuclear Power

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future of nuclear power in theUK.

Lord Callanan: The Government believes that nuclear power will play a key role in our future energy mix. Alongside other technologies, such as renewables, nuclear will help us to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The forthcoming Energy White Paper will address changes to our energy system, promoting high-skilled jobs and clean, resilient economic growth as we deliver on our net zero target.

Energy: Meters

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the rollout of smart meters.

Lord Callanan: There were 21.5 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain, as of the end of June 2020. Research has found that 80% of people with smart meters say they have a better idea of their energy costs and 88% of prepayment customers with smart meters say that topping up has become easier. Further to the publication of guidance on safe working during coronavirus (COVID-19) in May 2020, energy suppliers have been scaling up installation volumes, while implementing additional safety measures to ensure the wellbeing of customers and staff. In June 2020, the Government confirmed that from July 2021 a new four-year policy framework will be implemented with fixed annual installation milestones for energy suppliers that will drive roll-out momentum.

Department for Education

Pupils: Voucher Schemes

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the summer food payment scheme, and (2) the ability of recipients to use e-gift cards for non-school items.

Baroness Berridge: The government has taken unprecedented and substantial action to ensure that children do not go hungry as we take measures to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, including in relation to free school meals.In the first instance, we asked schools to support eligible pupils by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. For circumstances where this was not possible, we established a national voucher scheme and the COVID-19 Summer Food Fund to support schools and families during this difficult time while schools were restricted from opening to all pupils.Our national voucher scheme supplier, Edenred, reported that over £380 million worth of voucher codes had been redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by families through the scheme as of 19 August. Over 20,350 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of 28 July. Now schools and their kitchens are open, normal free school meal provision has resumed, enabling children to have a nutritious healthy meal at school. Our guidance stated that the vouchers must be used for food and must not be redeemed for any age-restricted items, such as alcohol, cigarettes or lottery tickets. Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-summer-food-fund.

Qualifications

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to make academic qualifications more accessible for adults.

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to remove barriers to online education courses for adults.

Baroness Berridge: Adult skills?are?key in supporting the economy and tackling disadvantage. The government is aware of the barriers adults can face when looking to learn, upskill or retrain such as cost, time, lack of flexibility, poor experiences of education and a lack of awareness of the need to upskill or retrain.We are continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the £1.34 billion Adult Education Budget (AEB). The principal purpose of the AEB is to engage adults and provide the skills and learning they need to equip them for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. This includes fully funded courses in English and mathematics for adults who need to improve their literacy and numeracy, fully funded first full level 2 and/or level 3 for learners aged 19 to 23 and from 1 August 2020, fully funded specified digital skills qualifications for adults with no/low digital skills.Starting this Parliament, we are providing £2.5 billion (£3 billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations), for the National Skills Fund to help adults learn valuable skills and prepare for the economy of the future. The fund aims to boost productivity and presents a great opportunity to create a more coherent and simpler system that learners, providers, local areas and employers can understand and navigate.To equip people to use digital tools and to adapt to the social distancing measures of COVID-19, the government launched The Skills Toolkit in April 2020. This offers a wide range of online digital and numeracy courses for all skills levels including courses such as Everyday Maths and an introductory 70 hour course on coding. Courses are available for free to the public, offering an opportunity for individuals to upskill and build on their CV. We want the range of the courses on offer to grow significantly and will therefore be launching an expanded platform shortly. More information on The Skills Toolkit is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-free-online-learning-platform-to-boost-workplace-skills.

Apprentices: Coronavirus

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they plan to provide for companies to continue to offer apprenticeship training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baroness Berridge: Apprenticeships will be more important than ever in helping businesses recruit the right people and develop the skills they need to recover and grow. In the 2020/21 financial year, funding available for investment in apprenticeships in England will remain around £2.5 billion – double the number spent in the 2010/11 financial year. The government is committed to ensuring people of all ages can continue to benefit from the high-quality training that an apprenticeship offers. Through our ‘Plan for Jobs’, a total of £1.6 billion is to be invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships.To help support employers to offer new apprenticeships, employers are now able to claim £2,000 for every new apprentice they hire under the age of 25 between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021, and £1,500 for those 25 and over. The department have introduced flexibilities to enable apprentices to continue to train during the COVID-19 outbreak and we encourage employers to take advantage of these flexibilities and the new payments.

Colonialism: Education

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofqual about examination boards developing modules on the study of migration and the UK'scolonial history;how many such modules are awaiting appraisal; which examination boards have submitted modules for that appraisal; and when such appraisals will be completed.

Baroness Berridge: As set out in my reply to HL8049 from the noble Lord, the department sets the high-level content requirements for GCSEs and A levels for history and within this subject content, there is significant scope for modules that cover the study of migration and the UK's colonial history. It is for awarding organisations themselves to develop specifications for GCSE and A level history that meet those requirements and for Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, to ensure those requirements are correctly met. As such, the department has not held discussions with Ofqual concerning the development of modules on these topics by awarding bodies.

Educational Institutions: Coronavirus

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether COVID-19 marshalswill be used to ensure that schools and colleges are (1) facilitating social distancing, and (2) providing COVID-19 secure environments.

Baroness Berridge: On 2 July the department published guidance to help schools and colleges prepare for all pupils, in all year groups, to return to education settings full-time from the beginning of the autumn term: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision/what-fe-colleges-and-providers-will-need-to-do-from-the-start-of-the-2020-autumn-term.We have worked closely with Public Health England (PHE) to develop the specific guidance for school settings. The PHE endorsed system of controls outlined in this guidance sets out the measures that school leaders and all school staff should follow. Colleges are responsible for completing risk assessments and complying with Health & Safety Executive (HSE) duties. HSE may review risk assessments and the measures that have been put in place by colleges to make the premises COVID-19 secure. Our guidance is clear that if schools and colleges implement the actions set out, they will effectively reduce risks in their school and create an inherently safer environment. This includes minimising contact between individuals and maintaining social distancing wherever possible.At this time, there is no plan to introduce COVID-19 marshals in schools and colleges. There cannot be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach where the system of controls describes every scenario. Head teachers will be best placed to understand the needs of their communities and to make informed judgments about how to balance delivering a broad and balanced curriculum with the measures needed to manage risk.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Japan: Foreign Relations

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has spoken to the Prime Minister of Japan since his appointment;and if so, whether they discussed the implications of the current tensions between the governments of the United States and China for the global economy.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Prime Minister spoke to newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Suga on 23 September. They discussed economic and trade issues, including the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and reform of the World Trade Organisation. The UK is concerned by the impacts of the current trade dispute between the governments of the US and China, and is clear that nobody benefits from trade wars. We continue to raise our concerns about the trade dispute with both parties, and to work closely with them on our bilateral trade and investment relationships.

China: India

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the political situation on the border of China and India; and what, if any,representations they have made (1) to support the agreement between the governments of China and India to disengage troops from the border and to avoid provocative actions, and (2) to bring about a permanent easing of tensions in the region, in particular in relation to Tibet.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Prime Minister expressed his concern at increased tensions between China and India in the House on 24 June. We welcome recent progress between China and India to manage tensions along their disputed border and the meeting of Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Jaishankar on 10 September. Both sides agreed a five-point plan to ease tensions, we encourage them to maintain dialogue and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Hong Kong: National Security

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about (1) the enactment and imposition by China of national security legislation for Hong Kong, and (2) ensuring that people who peacefully exercise their rights to assembly, freedom of expression and association are protected.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As the Foreign Secretary made clear to Parliament on 1 July, the imposition by China of the National Security Law on Hong Kong constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The legislation contains a slew of measures that directly threaten the freedoms and rights protected by the Joint Declaration.Freedom of speech, assembly and association are explicitly guaranteed in the Joint Declaration and Basic Law. The Hong Kong authorities must uphold the rights and freedoms of its people.On 1 July, the Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office summoned the Chinese Ambassador to make clear the UK's deep concerns. The UK Consul General in Hong Kong has also raised our concerns with Hong Kong's Executive Council. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Chinese State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi on 8 June and 28 July. We have also made our views clear at the United Nations. The UK, with the US, raised the issue at the UN Security Council on 29 May. At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 30 June, the UK led a formal Joint Statement with the support of 27 international partners, setting out our deep concern both on Hong Kong and Xinjiang. On 23 September, the UK hosted a virtual side event in the margins of the UN Human Rights Council on rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, which was co-sponsored by Canada and Australia. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Governments of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, both privately and publicly.

Hong Kong: National Security

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about its national security legislation for Hong Kong, in particular with regard to (1) human rights concerns, and (2) the impact of that legislation on human rights defenders; and how those representations have been raised.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As the Foreign Secretary made clear to Parliament on 1 July, the imposition by China of the National Security Law on Hong Kong constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The legislation contains a slew of measures that directly threaten the freedoms and rights protected by the Joint Declaration.Freedom of speech, assembly and association are explicitly guaranteed in the Joint Declaration and Basic Law. The Hong Kong authorities must uphold the rights and freedoms of its people.On 1 July, the Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office summoned the Chinese Ambassador to make clear the UK's deep concerns. The UK Consul General in Hong Kong has also raised our concerns with Hong Kong's Executive Council. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Chinese State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi on 8 June and 28 July. We have also made our views clear at the United Nations. The UK, with the US, raised the issue at the UN Security Council on 29 May. At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 30 June, the UK led a formal Joint Statement with the support of 27 international partners, setting out our deep concern both on Hong Kong and Xinjiang. On 23 September, the UK hosted a virtual side event in the margins of the UN Human Rights Council on rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, which was co-sponsored by Canada and Australia. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Governments of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, both privately and publicly.

Obadiah Mailafia

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade ofreports that Obadiah Mailafia has received death threats and been interrogated by Nigerian security forcesafter hemade public remarks about violencein the Middle-Belt region; andwhat assessment they have made of those remarks.

Baroness Sugg: We are concerned by reports that Mr Obadiah Mailafia received death threats following his remarks. The UK Government maintains that the rights of individuals and independent media to express opinions and peacefully challenge authority are essential to a free and open society. We do not have sufficient information to assess the authorities' motivation for questioning Mr Mailafia, nor why he subsequently retracted his comments.We do not share Mr Mailafia's original assertion that intercommunal violence was primarily religiously motivated and that there is systemic collusion between Fulani communities and Nigerian authorities in attacks against Christian communities. We will continue to call on the Nigerian Government to take urgent action to assist communities affected by the violence, bring perpetrators to justice and implement long-term solutions that address the underlying causes.

China: Uighurs

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 21 September (HL8043 and HL8044), what action they have taken at (1) the UN General Assembly, and (2) the UN Human Rights Council, to address human rights violations against Uighur Muslims in China; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the government of China’s use of veto powers at the UN Security Council on the way in which they conduct their actions at the UN.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has played a leading role at the Human Rights Council, and in the UN Third Committee to register the breadth and depth of international concern about the situation in Xinjiang. The UK is the only country to have led formal joint statements on the issue. On 30 June, the UK read out a formal statement on behalf of 28 countries at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council highlighting arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance and restrictions, particularly those targeting Uyghurs and other minorities, and urging China to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights meaningful access to Xinjiang. On 29 October 2019, the UK read out a statement on Xinjiang on behalf of 23 countries at the UN Third Committee in New York. We will continue to work with international partners at the UN to maximise pressure on the Chinese Government over its egregious human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in Xinjiang.

China: Uighurs

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of reports (1) that Uighur Muslim women have been subjected to forced abortions and womb removals, (2) that Uighur children are being separated from their parents and placed in orphanages, and (3) of the treatment of those children in such orphanages, in China.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are deeply concerned by reports of suppression of birth rates and the mistreatment of Uyghur children in China, including reports of children being forcibly separated from their parents and placed in state run institutions. As the Minister for Asia set out during an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on 9 September, we are seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang. On 25 September, at the UN Human Rights Council, I also raised serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including credible reports of forced labour and forced birth control in the UK's 'Item 4' national statement. It is noteworthy that the Chinese authorities' own figures show a drastic decline in birth rates in Xinjiang. These reports add to the growing body of evidence about serious and widespread human rights violations taking place in Xinjiang. We continue to raise our concerns at the UN, and directly with China.

Saneha Kinza Iqbal

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussionsthey have had with the government of Pakistan about the case of Saneha Kinza Iqbal; whether, in such discussions, they have raised the access of Saneha Kinza Iqbal to impartial legal assistance without involvementby any member of the family or other person associated with the abductor; and what plans they have to raise (1) forced conversion, (2) forced marriages, (3) abductions and abuse, of religious minority women and girls at internationalfora.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of and monitoring Saneha Kinza Iqbal's case. We regularly raise our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief, women and girls' rights and gender equality with the government of Pakistan at a senior level. Most recently, on 27 August, I raised our human rights concerns including Freedom of Religion of Belief with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari. In addition, on 8 September, I discussed our concerns regarding Freedom of Religion Belief in Pakistan with the Governor of Punjab.We will continue to urge Pakistan to take the steps necessary to comply in full with its human rights obligations, including engaging with the UN and other international bodies, and to ensure that the rights of minorities are respected.

Greece: Turkey

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of relations between the governments of Greece and Turkey.

Baroness Sugg: We believe it is critical for stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and for the integrity of the rules-based international system that tensions be reduced and disputes are resolved through dialogue and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We will continue to work with Greece, Turkey and all parties in the region to that end.

Department for Work and Pensions

Proof of Identity: Coronavirus

Lord Wei: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have stopped issuing (1) National Insurance numbers, and (2) other documents required to prove identity, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and if so, whatmeasuresthey are putting in placeto allow this service to resume.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues to allocate National Insurance Numbers (NiNo), however, at present this service is currently limited to specific customer groups.On 17 March, due to COVID-19, the face-to-face interview process for NINo applications was suspended, this was then extended to all employment inspired NINo activity, on 25 March. The suspension of this service enabled DWP to deploy the people engaged in this activity to support the processing of the substantial number of requests received for financial support for citizens impacted by COVID-19. Applications for those requiring a NINo for the payment of Social Security benefits has continued throughout the pandemic. On 1 June a limited service was reinstated for NINo applicants, requiring a NINo for employment purposes, who did not need a face-to-face interview to verify their identity. When applying for a NINo, all applicants are required to have their identity verified. Where applicants have had their identity verified by another UK Government Department, primarily the Home Office as part of their visa application, their application for a NINo can be dealt with by post. However, for those who have not had their identity verified, primarily UK and European Union/European Economic Area nationals, the process requires them to attend a face-to-face interview with DWP. During the face-to-face interview, the applicant will be asked to present photo identity documents such as a passport or National Identity Card, issued by their country of origin, which is then checked for authenticity using specialist document examination equipment. DWP is currently working on a digital solution that will reduce the length of the NINo interview and will enable the reinstatement of a shortened face-to-face service. This service is expected to be available by mid-October, but will be to a limited number of applicants (initially 550 a day), as the digital solution is tested with the expectation that it will be available to all applicants later in the year.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Forests

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they haveto reduce the amount of unmanaged woodland and forest.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: 59% of woodland in England is managed, and we recognise the need to increase support for management–safeguarding our woods, supporting biodiversity and providing sustainable timber. In addition to existing grant support for management, the Forestry Commission and Institute of Chartered Foresters are working to improve the quality of woodland management plans. We are also exploring further ways in which we can drive up the levels of sustainable woodland management in the development of the upcoming England Tree Strategy.

Lakes and Rivers: Environment Protection

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the levels of pollution in rivers and lakes in England; and how many have achieved a good ecological status.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Environment Agency's State of the Environment: Water Quality Report 2018 is the most recent assessment of water pollution. The Environment Agency's water body classification results 2019 show that 16% of England's surface water reached good ecological status. More needs to be done and we need to go further and faster. We are tackling pollution from poor farming practice with regulation, financial incentives and educational schemes for farmers. In addition to Government investment in many local improvement schemes, water company investment is being scaled up to £4.6 billion, the highest yet, in the next five-year period. A new task force comprising Government and water companies will help address the problem of sewage discharge from storm overflows and our new chemicals strategy will build on a robust statutory regime to ensure chemicals are managed and handled safely.

Flood Control: Somerset

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofpreparations to mitigate flooding of the Somerset Levels in the winter.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: At this time of year, being incident ready and resilient for winter flooding is a top priority for the Environment Agency (EA). The EA are working to ensure that its incident response rosters are well-populated and that incident duty staff have had refresher training. This summer, across the Levels and Moors, EA field staff have been working to deliver a multimillion pound programme of maintenance works. This includes repairs and essential maintenance to pump stations, clearing main rivers to ensure maximum conveyance, localised repairs to damaged flood banks, and asset inspections to address any defects. Contingency plans have also been developed for strategically important assets with an ongoing programme of tests and exercises. In October, the EA has planned specialist training for its staff on deploying ultra-high volume pumps and temporary defences. Separate training sessions are also planned with supply chain partners so that they are well briefed if they are needed.

Nature Conservation: Sports

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the exemptions included in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 relating to organised outdoor sports on species at risk of extinction.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Government has exempted over 30 types of sport, exercise and physical activity such as football, rugby and other outdoor pursuits from the gatherings limit. Outdoor activity is safer from a transmission perspective, and it is often easier to social distance. Just as it did before the coronavirus outbreak, the government recognises it is vital that wildlife and habitats are respected and protected, and we ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between outdoor sports and conservation.

Home Office

Asylum: English Channel

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have paid (1) to the government of France, and (2) organisations based in France, in the last five years to limit asylum seekers crossing the English Channel illegally; and what assessment they have made of whether the government of France has met the commitments of any agreements in place to limit such crossings.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK and France maintain a longstanding relationship on tackling illegal migration at the shared border and the UK has committed several funding packages to supporting this work in recent years. These include:o In September 2019 the Joint Action Plan on Combatting Illegal Migration Involving Small Boats (‘Small Boats Action Plan’) was signed. The UK committed €3.6m (£3.25m) to tackling the issue. These funds were utilised for the delivery of strategic communications campaigns and the provision of equipment to improve detection of small boats crossings. This was later supplemented with a further €2.5m (£2.25m) in the 19/20 Financial Year, which was dedicated to the deployment of Gendarme Reservists and further strengthening preventive security measures at the French coast.o In January 2018 both countries signed the Sandhurst Treaty, under which the UK made a commitment of €50 million (£45.5m) for activity to prevent illegal migration.The UK and France are committed to ensuring value for money in investment. The UK and France carried out a joint review of bilateral cooperation under the Sandhurst Treaty, which concluded that this programme of work has made a difference to illegal migration. France also continues to invest significant resource into tackling this issue as part of a joint response with the UK.In addition to the above sums outlined, we have also invested the following:o The September 2014 Joint Declaration committed £12m for security improvements at Calais, Dunkirk, and the Eurotunnel terminal at Coquelles. This was supplemented by £1 million for fencing and by £1.7 million to support an enhanced secure freight zone at Calais.o In 2015, both countries signed a Joint Declaration which committed £45.96 million (majority to Eurotunnel) towards security enhancements of the juxtaposed controls and to moving migrants into reception centres across France.o This was followed by payments in 2016 (£17 million) and a further (£36 million) to strengthen the border and maintain the operation of the juxtaposed controls.

Asylum: English Channel

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking over reports that French Navy patrol boats have been aiding asylum seekers to enter UK waters illegally.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK has a duty both to prevent loss of life and protect the integrity of our border. In doing so we have domestic and international laws to comply with. Search and Rescue (SAR) legal provisions derive from a number of international conventions, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS) and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue 1979 (the SAR Convention). Under these provisions both the UK and France both have a duty to save lives, and if a boat encounters difficulty and is in distress then there is a need to protect life.French authorities and vessels do attempt to persuade migrants to abandon their journey and allow themselves to be rescued but are at times met with extreme hostility from migrants. French assets will generally remain with the migrant vessel to ensure they are on-hand in case a rescue is required. The French do not believe forcible interceptions would be safe or permitted under SOLAS or SAR operations.We are doing everything we can to stop these dangerous Channel crossings and bring to justice the criminals behind this organised immigration crime.We are also continuing to engage with our French counterparts both on an operational and political level, exploring all options to reduce the number of people attempting this dangerous crossing.

Cabinet Office

Trade: Taiwan

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the level of trade is between the UK and Taiwan.

Lord True: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.---------------------- Dear Baroness Kennedy, As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what the level of trade is between the UK and Taiwan (HL8281). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish UK export/import statistics in our quarterly UK total trade: all countries, non-seasonally adjusted release. For 2019, the UK estimates of trade with Taiwan were £2.99bn worth of goods and service exports to Taiwan, and £4.1bn worth of goods and service imports from Taiwan. For more detail, full annual and quarterly timeseries data on the export and import of goods and services by the UK from Taiwan can be found on our website. Yours sincerely, Professor Sir Ian Diamond[1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/internationaltrade/datasets/uktotaltradeallcountriesnonseasonallyadjusted

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the mechanisms used to ensure that the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are informed of actions being taken by the Government to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord True: The Government is working closely with the devolved administrations.The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, holds regular calls with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales and the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and ministers from the devolved administrations will be invited to attend the Covid-Operations Committee on a weekly basis. This supplements wider joint working by ministers and officials. The purpose is not simply to ‘ensure that the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are informed of actions being taken by the Government’ but to share best practice and data, coordinate action and work together as set out in the Joint Statement of 25 September.

Customs

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last met representatives of the British International Freight Association; and what assessment they have made of the ability of the customs and logistics sector to cope with any additional processes required after the end of the Brexit transition period.

Lord True: The Government regularly meets key representative organisations and trade associations in preparation for the end of the Transition Period. HMRC and Cabinet Office officials meet frequently with the British International Freight Association (BIFA), the most recent occasions for HMRC being an industry roundtable event on 17 September and a customs forum on 21 September. Cabinet Office have also been in discussions with BIFA regarding the Border Operating Model (BOM) on 23 September.

Treasury

Exports: VAT

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on jobs of endingtax-free shopping for international tourists; and what steps they are taking, if any, to protect such jobs.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government has announced that the VAT Retail Export Scheme will not be extended to EU visitors, and will be withdrawn for all non-EU visitors, following the end of the transition period. However, retailers will continue to be able to offer VAT-free shopping to non-EU visitors who purchase items in store and have them sent direct to their overseas addresses and this will be available to EU visitors following the end of the transition period. The final costing will be subject to scrutiny by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility and will be set out at the next forecast. The Government recognises the challenge these businesses face. The Chancellor announced the Winter Economy Plan on 24 September. This includes an extension to the temporary 5 per cent reduced rate of VAT on goods and services supplied by the tourism and hospitality sectors from 12 January to 31 March 2021. This alone provides continued support for the cash flow and viability of over 150,000 businesses and protection for 2.4 million jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The plan also provides further support to businesses and jobs over the coming months.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Data Protection: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, after the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, Northern Ireland will be subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation rules on data transfer even if the rest of the UK decides to introduce new rules.

Baroness Barran: At the end of the transition period, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA) will incorporate direct EU legislation into UK law, as well as saving EU-derived domestic legislation – collectively referred to as 'retained EU law'. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will become retained EU law for the whole of the UK.We have made Regulations under the EUWA to make necessary and appropriate changes to the GDPR, which will become the UK GDPR, and the Data Protection Act 2018 so that the UK’s data protection law continues to function effectively after the transition period.In respect of data transfer rules, the EU has an established mechanism to allow the unrestricted transfer (subject to GDPR compliance) of personal data to countries outside the EU, called ‘adequacy decisions’. At the end of the transition period, the UK will recognise EEA countries as continuing to be adequate for the purpose of the UK GDPR, so data can continue to flow from the UK to the EEA. In order for the free flow of data from the EEA to the UK to continue at the end of the transition period, we are seeking adequacy decisions from the EU under both the GDPR and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED). Adequacy talks between the UK and the EU began on 11 March and continue to progress.